Residents raised concerns that county and city actions—including resolutions supporting a specific alignment—were prejudicing the outcome of the East Side Corridor (ESC) Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) before review was complete, and cited ongoing public data access barriers that undermine meaningful participation. Speakers requested an extension of the EAW comment period and a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as the County simultaneously approved a 4.6% levy increase and other development actions.

During the Truth in Taxation meeting, residents learned of a roughly $10 million increase in the County highway budget, raising concerns about fiscal transparency and how these funds relate to major transportation projects such as the East Side Corridor (ESC).

Multiple residents urged the County to pause the ESC Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), citing violations of MEPA and NEPA, an Administrative Law Judge’s ruling confirming unlawful public data practices, and the release of the EAW without residents having access to required underlying data. Speakers emphasized that meaningful public participation cannot occur without transparency, proper engineering oversight, and compliance with the law, warning that proceeding under these conditions undermines public trust and safety.

While the Board approved routine consent and agenda items and held a public hearing on cannabis ordinance amendments, public comment focused on ongoing concerns about transparency, restricted public participation, and lack of accountability in county government. Residents described years of being denied access to data and meaningful engagement—issues directly relevant to major projects such as the ESC—before the meeting concluded with closed sessions for litigation and property negotiations.

The Board appointed the Public Works Director as County Engineer after it was revealed—under oath—that Steele County had been operating for months without a legally designated County Engineer, despite public representations to the contrary. This gap in required professional oversight is significant for major transportation projects, including the ESC, which continued advancing during this period without a lawfully appointed engineer responsible for accountability, safety, and compliance.

Residents raised concerns that the public hearing was not properly noticed as required by law, yet the Board proceeded and approved the Capital Improvement Plan, extending the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) into its 11.5th year despite being authorized as a temporary 10-year tax. The approval included continued funding for projects such as the East Side Corridor (ESC), effectively converting a voter-approved, time-limited tax into an ongoing revenue source without renewed voter approval.

During Public Comment, residents raised concerns about transparency, misuse of funds, public data violations, and the growing use of eminent domain—linking these issues directly to projects such as the East Side Corridor (ESC), Havana, and other recent infrastructure decisions. Commenters urged the Board to restore public trust and accountability amid a proposed 5.1% property tax increase and ongoing closed sessions, highlighting a pattern of decisions being made with limited public access or oversight.

Residents raised concerns during Public Comment about the Havana Project being fast-tracked after the County Engineer’s resignation, citing disproportionate impacts on affected families and a lack of engineering oversight—an issue echoing broader concerns relevant to the East Side Corridor (ESC). Despite these concerns, the Board advanced engineering decisions by reviewing and approving the Main Street concept plan without a County Engineer present, concluding the meeting with another closed session. 

Two East Side Corridor (ESC) residents raised concerns about transparency, public access, and the county’s continued exclusion of residents from the ESC process, citing years without open houses, unfulfilled data requests, delayed promises of a noise wall vote, and recent restrictions on public comment. Additional concerns were raised about the absence of a County Engineer, as the board continued making engineering-related decisions—including those affecting the ESC—without clarity on who is exercising professional authority, followed by another closed session.

During this brief meeting, a resident raised safety concerns about the unfinished 18th Street Roundabout, prompting the County Administrator to acknowledge unresolved coordination and maintenance issues while offering no timeline for completion. The discussion highlighted a broader concern relevant to the East Side Corridor (ESC): engineering-level decisions continued to move forward during a period when the County had no County Engineer on staff, raising questions about who was exercising that authority.

Commissioner Jim Abbe attended remotely, while Commissioners Krueger, Brady, Glynn, and Prokopec were present in chambers; no public comment was offered, and no East Side Corridor (ESC) discussion or action occurred during the open session. Ended with a closed session for labor negotiation strategy under Minn. Stat. §§ 179A.01 and 13D.03. 

Although the East Side Corridor (ESC) was not on the agenda, residents used public comment to highlight growing concerns about government transparency and decision-making. Speakers cited potential open meeting law violations and a lack of accessible information on major infrastructure projects like the ESC. Residents criticized the reliance on unanswered data requests and called for a more open, public process moving forward. 

Residents voiced strong concerns over a new public comment policy they believe violates First Amendment rights and silences dissent. One speaker cited noncompliance with Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law following a closed session, which the County Administrator dismissed.

Another resident questioned the justification for the East Side Corridor (ESC), pointing to a lack of traffic data and inconsistencies in claims about truck traffic on Shady Ave and Crestview Ln. A third resident, newly aware of the ESC, simply asked: “Why not 34th Ave?”

This meeting featured powerful testimony against the East Side Corridor—but when residents began addressing agenda items, a commissioner responded by cutting them off. From safety concerns and missing traffic data to formal complaints and fiscal accountability, residents demanded answers—only to be silenced mid-sentence.

The interim county engineer introduced himself and told residents to expect the ESC project to proceed due to its long history. But residents pushed back—urging him to review the full, accurate history, not just the biased data that’s been used to justify a deeply flawed plan.

Residents demanded accountability. The County doubled down on secrecy.

At this meeting, two residents exposed retaliation, misinformation, and hidden alternatives—one even vocalizing a formal complaint. Meanwhile, the board approved another $6M in contracts just days before the engineer’s departure. Calls for transparency were met with silence. 

Days after announcing his departure, the Steele County engineer pushed through $2M in contracts—nearly half to WSB—without public input, oversight, or clear justification.

With projects recently delayed, federal funding just dropped and environmental studies incomplete, residents are asking: Why approve final designs now—and who’s holding anyone accountable?

The City presented plans for the new safety center—but around the 12-minute mark, the meeting shifted as residents raised concerns about safety, farmland, rising taxes, and the East Side Corridor.

From dangerous parking and diverted waterways to highway impacts just 17 feet from homes, the public called for one thing: safety-first common sense and real accountability.

Residents were locked out of the April 8 meeting—the third lockout this year—just as they learned federal funds were quietly dropped from the ESC project without so much as a commissioner vote. The transfer request was filed 12 days earlier, the same day residents fully funded a GoFundMe to pursue formal complaints. 

In documents and at the meeting, the county engineer falsely cited “neighborhood litigation” as a reason—despite residents never threatening legal action. The move is a clear attempt to placate the public while stripping away protections like the federally required noise wall—residents demand accountability and transparency moving forward.

Residents spoke about the need to protect MnPrairie services that support families facing mental health struggles. Cutting access while pushing a highway just 17 feet from homes—despite known mental health and health risks from road noise—only adds to the harm. 

This meeting was moved to 4pm instead of 5 and Owatonna Live was not notified so there is no recording of this meeting. 

Residents were locked out of the public county board meetings for the second time this year while seeking answers on the $60M ESC project. Conflicting statements about the noise wall vote and EAW timeline raised serious concerns about transparency and trust. Residents called for access, honesty, and real participation in decisions impacting their community. 

At the Feb. 11 meeting, residents packed the room once again—calling out four months of unanswered data requests, hidden committees, rising taxes, and a lack of transparency on the ESC and Havana projects. They didn’t just ask for answers. They asked the county to start living up to its own values.

Over 40 Residents gathered to speak out after county blocks petition signed by 578. Steele County refused to acknowledge a petition backed by hundreds —so residents packed the room to speak for themselves. Denied transparency, they demanded respect, accountability, and a voice in the process.  In return, doors were locked denying residents access to the meeting!

Flawed data, rising costs, and misleading support letters? A resident exposes major issues with the East Side Corridor project—including omitted findings, biased reports, and a $30M price tag that could’ve been avoided. Shouldn’t the public know the truth?